Interpretive Summary: RNA is used in a number of laboratory experiments, unfortunately, the instability of RNA and the ubiquitous nature of enzymes which degrade RNA makes it difficult to isolate quality RNA. Further complications arise from contaminants from the original tissue that renders the isolated RNA unfit for downstream applications. For example, tissue from ripe fruit and seeds often have high water and sugar content that can contaminate the purified RNA or cause low recovery.

Technical Abstract:
RNA is used in a multitude of laboratory experiments from Northern blots to reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR). Isolating high quality RNA is vital in the process of gene discovery and in studying temporal expression of genes during sequential developmental stages of plants. Unfortunately the instability of the molecule and the ubiquitous nature of RNases makes RNA highly susceptible to degradation. Further complications arise from contaminants from the original tissue that renders the isolated RNA unfit for downstream applications. For example, tissue from ripe fruit and seeds often have high fat, phenolic compounds, polysaccharide, or water content that can contaminate the purified RNA or cause low recovery.